AMC to stream 'Breaking Bad' premiere online

AMC’s battle with Dish continues, but at least Breaking Bad fans won’t have to suffer: The basic cable net will offer a special live stream of the drama’s season 5 premiere to Dish subscribers on its website July 15.

Starting tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET, Dish subs can register for access at www.amctv.com/breakingbad4dish. “Every cable, phone and satellite company other than Dish carries AMC and its popular programming, including Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead and Mad Men in their basic package,” the network said in a statement. “AMC wants its loyal Dish viewers to experience the excitement of the Breaking Bad premiere at the same time as their friends and neighbors and we want to give Dish customers an extra week to switch providers so they can enjoy the rest of the season.”

Dish, which has more than 14 million subscribers, dropped all of the AMC nets at the end of June after the two sides failed to sign a new carriage agreement. Dish has said that low ratings on IFC and WE, in particular, didn’t justify the high rates that AMC Nets wants to continue charging. AMC, however, believes the blackout has less to do with a carriage dispute and more to do with an ongoing lawsuit between the two companies that involves a bunch of high-definition channels that no longer exist.